Pantaleon
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Panteleimon | |
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Lord of India | |
Basileus of the Euthydemian Empire | |
Reign | 190–180 BC |
Predecessor | Demetrius I |
Successor | Agathocles |
Died | 180 BCE |
Dynasty | Euthydemid |
Father | Euthydemus I |
Panteleimon, also known as Pantaleon, (Ancient Greek: Πανταλεον), was a Greek king who reigned some time between 190–180 BC in Bactria and India. He was a contemporary or successor of the Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius, and is believed to have been one of his brothers and/or subking.
The scarcity of his coinage indicates a short reign. Known evidence suggests that he was replaced by his (probable) brother or son Agathocles, by whom he was commemorated on a "pedigree" coin.
Copper-Nickel coinage
Some of his coins (as well as those of Agathocles and Euthydemus II) have another surprising characteristic: they are made of copper-nickel alloy, a technology that would not be developed in the West until the 18th century, but was known by the Chinese at the time. This suggests that exchanges of the metallic alloy or technicians happened between China and the region of Bactria.
Bilingual Indian-standard coinage
He was the first Greek king to strike Indian coins, peculiar irregular bronzes representing a lion with a dancing Indian woman, probably the goddess Lakshmi (a type also known in the Post-Mauryan coinage of Gandhara), which suggests he had his base in Arachosia and Gandhara and wanted support from the native population.
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Dancing woman, possibly Lakshmi, on a coin of Pantaleon.